Name : Kotomi Akutsu
Department/Position : ESG Consulting department
Area of Expertise/Assigned Duties : sustainable related research and public relations
University : International Christian University
Major/Studies : Language Education/International Relations
Reason for Joining Green Carbon : Because I wanted to gain practical experiences in environmental field
Career Background : ICUHS, ICU, study abroad at the faculty of Political Science, Université libre de Bruxelles, currently senior year student
Hobbies/How I Spend My Days Off : Visiting cafes, traveling, and watching dramas
Student Activities/Organizations : External Relations Leader and Event Planning Manager at TEDxICUSocial media : www.linkedin.com/in/kotomi-akutsu
Q. Please give us a brief introduction of yourself, including your career history.
My name is Kotomi Akutsu, and I am a senior year student at International Christian University. At university, I study Language Education and International Relations.
In Language Education, I am enrolled in the Japanese Language Teacher Training Program, where I focus on teaching Japanese as a second language. My interest in language learning began during my first year of high school, when I participated in a two-week exchange program in Geneva, Switzerland.
Spending two weeks with a Swiss host family and being exposed to new values and cultures inspired in me a strong admiration for being able to communicate in someone else’s native language. Immediately after returning to Japan, I began studying French. Through learning the language, I discovered new cultures and formed many new connections. I was deeply moved by the diversity of opportunities that language learning creates, and since then, I have been passionate about becoming someone who can provide those opportunities to others.
In International Relations, I focus particularly on European environmental policy. My interest in environmental issues also stems from my exchange experience in Switzerland. Being surrounded by abundant nature, away from Tokyo, I experienced firsthand a society where humans and nature coexist. This led me to become more conscious of climate change and global warming, which were already pressing global concerns at the time.
Within a capitalist society that often prioritizes economic gain, I began asking myself how I could contribute meaningfully to society. This reflection led me to aspire to work in the environmental field.
From 2024, I studied abroad for one year in Brussels, the capital of the EU, at Université libre de Bruxelles. There, I focused particularly on the challenges and burdens faced by small-scale producers positioned at the downstream end of environmental policy implementation, as well as risk mitigation during policy introduction.
Q. What kind of work are you involved in? Please tell us about your job responsibilities.
I currently belong to the ESG Consulting Department and here, I conduct research on trends in integrated reporting and analyze how corporate environmental initiatives enhance enterprise value and contribute to risk mitigation. I am also responsible for managing social media and drafting news releases. Being part of a department that continuously expands into new domains, I feel that I am in an environment where I can fully dedicate my passion and intellectual curiosity.
Q. What made you want to work at Green Carbon?
I discovered Green Carbon when I was searching for an internship to gain practical experience in the environmental field and happened to find the internship page. I was strongly attracted by the opportunity to view environmental issues—previously understood only through academic study—from a business perspective. Green Carbon offers a learning environment that goes beyond the university setting, allowing me to understand how society perceives environmental challenges and what concrete measures are being implemented.
Q. What would you like to take on in the future?
I would like to take an active role in newly launched initiatives such as Green Career Academy and in the planning of new business ventures, challenging myself to turn new ideas into tangible outcomes.
What I find especially compelling about Green Carbon is that even as an intern, I am encouraged to voice the challenges I wish to pursue—and those voices are genuinely heard and valued. I hope to fully leverage this supportive environment and continue pushing myself to take on new challenges.
Q. What do you find rewarding about your work?
Standing at the forefront of Japan’s GX transformation, I have the opportunity to learn about real corporate initiatives and market trends. At the same time, I am able to reflect on how I would like to engage with this field in the future.
Although I am an intern, I am exposed to practical insights such as how companies implement environmental initiatives and how they communicate those efforts externally, that I could never have learned solely at university. Through this experience, I am gaining a clearer vision of the field I want to pursue, which I find most rewarding.
Q. Finally, please give a message to those who want to work at Green Carbon.
For those who are conscious of environmental issues and aspire to contribute meaningfully, Green Carbon is a place filled with valuable learning opportunities created by people from diverse backgrounds working together. I strongly encourage you to seize that opportunity.